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JICA technical team visits Nevis ahead of agreement to assist with energy efficiency

Minister responsible for Energy, Natural Resources and Public Utilities on Nevis Hon. Alexis Jeffers with Ogawa Tadayuki Senior Advisor (Energy and Power Sector) Professional Engineer at the Japan International Corporation Agency at the Nevis Island Administration conference room in Charlestown on March 01, 2016

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 03, 2016) — Training for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and equipment are among one the benefits of an agreement for technical assistance in the area of energy efficiency between the Federal Government, the Nevis Electricity Company Ltd. (NEVLEC), the St. Kitts Electricity Company Ltd.(SKELEC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The agreement to herald the start of the three-year project from July, is referred to as the Technical Cooperation to Promote Energy Efficiency in Caribbean Countries. It was signed in Basseterre on March 02, 2016.

Minister responsible for Energy, Natural Resources and Public Utilities in the NIA the Hon. Alexis Jeffers, told the Department of Information on March 01, 2016, following a meeting with a six-member team from JICA, that the benefits of the agreement would bolster the administration’s thrust in renewable energy.

“This particular mission would help us as an administration, to implement all of the necessary energy efficient models so as to ensure there is sustainable development of the island of Nevis and the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in the future.

“Many times we take these matters for granted and in so doing, we realise we are missing out on ensuring that we are providing the necessary framework and the necessary environment to protect our country and to protect this Federation for future generations,” he said.

He added that the technical cooperation for the project would dispatch experts to St. Kitts and Nevis, provide machinery and material and technical assistance to ensure the proper implementation of the project.

According to Mr. Jeffers, the same project is also being carried out in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

The Minister used the opportunity to underscore the NIA’s continued interest in renewable energy and expressed the view that every government including the Nevis Island Administration should ensure energy efficiency as they pursue sustainable development.

Regarding renewable energy, the Energy Minister expressed hope that some mobilisation would be seen on Nevis over the coming months. He reiterated the importance of renewable energy development on Nevis because it would meet with the administration’s goal of becoming the greenest island on earth.

The JICA team, led by Ogawa Tadayuki Senior Advisor (Energy and Power Sector) Professional Engineer, spent three days in the Federation. During their one-day visit to Nevis, they were taken on a tour by Jervan Swanston Acting General Manager of Nevis Electricity Company Ltd. (NEVLEC).

They visited the proposed site of the Waste to Energy solar farm at Long Point, the electricity generating plant at Prospect, the geothermal sites at Hamilton and Spring Hill and the wind farm at Maddens. They also held discussions with the technical team at NEVLEC headquarters at Stoney Grove.

The other members of the JICA team were Sakamoto Masanori of Team 2, Energy and Mining Group, Industrial Development and Public Policy Department; Masayuki Takazawa Development and Planning Consultant, First-class Registered Architect/Building Engineer, Urban Environment Division of Kokusai Kogyo Co. Ltd; Yoshitetsu Fujisawa Project Manager, Consulting Teal, International Activities Project, Business Planning Department of the Shikdku Electric Power Plant; Masahiro Sakuri President of Sara Corporation Co. Ltd and; Shigeru Urakawa Deputy General Manager (mechanical engineer) Overseas Group of the West Japan Engineering Consultants Inc.

At the end of the tour, the team leader said they realised that renewable energy was already on the ground and expressed hope that they would be able to assist Nevis to promote more renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Mr. Swanston said the island is at an advanced stage in its quest for geothermal energy, having been the first island in the Organisation of East Caribbean States (OECS) to go green in 2009 when the wind farm was commissioned.

However, he stated that NEVLEC is very pleased for any assistance it could get.

“We welcome JICA for coming on board and for the assistance that you are brining, all the studies and all the help that we need. We know that you will be here for us and so this is a big plus here at NEVLEC,” he said.